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Shady Ladies of the New York City Metropolitan Museum

From USD 59.00

Overview

From ancient Greece to the Italian Renaissance to 19th-century America and France, painters have reflected their society’s fascination with sexy ladies. On this 2-hour tour with an art historian guide in the Metropolitan Museum, hear real-life tales of the courtesans, prostitutes and royal mistresses depicted in many of the museum’s masterpieces. Your informative guide reveals an unexpected side of these paintings, providing a new lens through which to view the classic art collection of New York City’s premier museum.

Courtesans, royal mistresses, and scandalous women of every sort. The walls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are lined with them, from the ancient Greek 'hetaerae' to Sargent's Madame X and beyond. These sexy women — often also intelligent, educated, wealthy, or even powerful — were key members of the political and cultural elites of their time. They fascinated patrons and artists alike, from Praxiteles to Titian to Manet. But who were they? What were their stories? To find out, explore the lives and loves that lie behind the paintings.On this 2-hour walking tour, an art historian guide will provide an orientation into the vast museum while showing an entirely new, intriguing side of art. Learn about the ancient Greek hetaira, the Japanese oiran, and the cortigiane of the Italian Renaissance; representations of Venus and their relationship to ladies of the night; royal mistresses in France and England and their titled descendants; the demimondaines of 19th century Paris and their importance in art and opera; and sex and art scandals of 19th century America.

An excellent overview of some of the Met's pieces...some better known, others not so much, but all either featuring women or created by women. Andrew is a first class raconteur who simultaneously educates and entertains.

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank Bruce M

nasmust

1

Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Very Informative and delightful

Our tour guide was very informative and funny. He talked to each of us and was never hurried. He was great with people who needed to arrive late or got lost and he had excellent knowledge of the locations of everything in the vast museum....More

Date of experience: November 2018

Thank nasmust

Passport31242714579

1

Reviewed 5 weeks ago

A lot of fun

Fun and informative. A very knowledgable guide and the sort of information I wouldn't begin to think about when looking at portraits in the museum. Unlike any other museum tour I've been on

Thanks for your great review! We're glad you enjoyed the tour, and thanks for noticing that they are unusual: we're trying to do tours that are fun but also at a really high intellectual level. Hope to see you again!

A T

New Jersey

3

Reviewed 1 November 2018

Shady Ladies Tour of the Met

Excellent; enchanting for the two hour duration. Great for all backgrounds and art history levels! Would take it again and will be taking other tours they offer in the future. Highly recommend.

Thanks for the great review! We're glad that you enjoyed the tour and look forward to showing you around the museum again!

Jennifer A

1

Reviewed 9 October 2018

Wonderful, even on a crowded, chaotic day!

I loved this from start to finish and learned so much. It was an incredibly crowded long-weekend Sunday at the museum, my companion and I were hungry and stressed, but we still settled right into the moment once the tour started and loved every minute.